Carlos Alcaraz speaks with CNN after US Open win.
Rio de Janeiro — Rafael Nadal wrapped up his career at the age of 33 and will be inducted into the Open Era Tennis Hall of Fame on Friday.
The four-time Grand Slam champion is still competing today, competing in the Rio Olympics against world number one Andy Murray. But at the end of the day that’s not what made this week’s announcement so special — that this has been the year of Rafa.
Rafael Nadal is the latest star to be named to the Open Era Tennis Hall of Fame. AP
He is one of five players to be so honored, joining Roger Federer, Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi and Andre Agassi Sr.
“It’s a huge honor,” Nadal said. “To be in the same class as the greatest players is not something many people get the chance to experience. And to have people like that in their class, it’s incredible.”
On Friday afternoon, Nadal’s Hall of Fame plaque will be delivered to the United States Capitol and installed on the wall of the Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island. He will then be greeted by an official ceremony where he will be joined by his brother, Thais, and parents.
The plaque will honor his accomplishments of his entire career. His career-high of 26 Grand Slam singles titles, which he achieved in 2004, tied him with Roger Federer on six all-time records.
He remains the only tennis player to have won 20 Grand Slam singles titles.
In February, when he joined a short list of other tennis players, including Roger Federer, Jimmy Connors, Stefan Edberg, Mats Wilander and Boris Becker, to have won a major singles championship on the same day, Nadal also received an invitation to the 2016 Forbes 30 Under 30 list.
A month later, he earned his second career Grand Slam doubles title when he partnered Richard Gasquet to win the 2014 Wimbledon title.
Since then, Nadal has added to that list of titles by winning the 2016 Australian Open on clay and the 2018 Australian Open on hard courts.
Now, he can add another award to the list, the World Tennis Hall of Fame.
“One more victory,” Nadal said. “It’s another trophy for me, it’s another honor for me, and it’s
